Eagles’ Nest – Getting Bigger, Better and Greener     
Mountain-Ear  5/20/09

by Pam North


    Eagles’ Nest Early Learning Center manages to operate normally
despite the construction work that just began on April 30th.  A 966
square foot addition is under way, which will result in extra space
and amenities that will greatly benefit the center.  A new entry will
provide easier and safer access by eliminating the steep slope that
had to be negotiated previously.  The additional space will be
designated as “adult space” for a reception area, a break room for
teachers and a new restroom with a shower – kids sometimes throw up on
their teachers, so that last item is a welcome amenity!  
      
      Linda Brown, executive director, cites several added benefits
made possible by the addition: space to hold conferences, training
sessions and quarterly parent events; emergency exits; and a better
flow pattern for utilizing the kitchen.  She also added that the
project “is an excellent opportunity to integrate renewable energy
solutions.”  Brown, who has been teaching since 1975, came to Eagles’
Nest in 1999, and became its director in 2001.  

     Radiance Corporation of Nederland, CO completed an energy audit
for Eagles’ Nest, the results of which are being applied both to
“greening” the new building addition and to an upgrade of the
existing center’s energy use.  The original Eagles’ Nest building
was built in 1996, and the Radiance Corporation’s audit focused on
the energy conservation measures that would produce reductions in
utility, operation and maintenance costs, minimize future capital
expenditures on major equipment for the existing building, and offer
the most reasonable opportunities for integrating renewable energy
technologies into the new addition.  The construction is being done by
Eric Niermann of Divide Design & Build LLC, who is working with
Radiance Corporation to ensure a sustainable, energy-efficient solar
and geothermal heating system for the new addition, including radiant
floor heating, integrated environment comfort controls,
energy-efficient lighting systems, insulation upgrades, ventilation
air controls, and improved hot water access and supply provided by a
geothermal heating system that will be integrated with the solar
domestic water heating system.  A fall completion of the addition is
anticipated.  
	  
     The 23’ by 42’ addition will cost approximately
$125,000.  Brown says they have been “saving up for a long time” to
accomplish the goal of financing the construction.  A small portion of
the money came from a DOLA grant, and some via grants from the US
Department of Agriculture and American Recovery Act Funds, and Temple
Hoyne Buell and Qualistar Boettcher foundations. Eagles’ Nest has
done much of the fundraising by soliciting donations and donation
matches, holding softball tournaments, operating food booths at the
county fair, and implementing in-house catalog sales.  

       Eagles’ Nest provides a creative learning curriculum taught in
a stimulating environment, accommodating 55 children.  It is a
licensed non-profit childcare facility for children from birth to
kindergarten, and is a designated Head Start site.  It receives some
assistance from Gilpin County Human Services so that local families
can more easily afford childcare, and it offers a sliding scale and
scholarships through that department.